PETALING JAYA: Over 100,000 employees in the mechanical and electrical sector are at "breaking point" says the Malaysian Council of Mechanical and Electrical Association (MCMEA).

       Its chairman Michelle Hah said the supply chain of these sectors had been badly affected by the movement control order.

       "We are very concerned of a collapse of the entire value chain as certain sectors are allowed to operate but the manufacturing-related supply chain and maintenance sectors are not allowed to operate, which is causing disruption," she said in a statement on Wednesday (July 21).

       She noted that MCMEA has about 3,000 members nationwide that provide critical equipment and services for a wide range of sectors but have not been able to obtain approval to operate since June 1.

       Hah said the restrictions had affected supply of critical and essential equipment to sectors such as sewerage and water treatment plants, including essential buildings such as hospitals.

       She noted that members, who consist of professional consultants, are also required to conduct critical safety and maintenance work but have been unable to get approval through the CIMS 3.0 system.

       "Without safety and maintenance works being carried out, many essential plants, facilities and buildings will suffer power failure, false alarms and breakdown of the buildings' mechanical and electrical systems," she added.

       Hah said a collapse of the supply chain would also gravely affect data centres, fire safety, food storage, hospital, intensive care units and ventilation of PPV centres.

       She said such operations must be allowed to resume as there is a danger of mounting job losses by August.

       She commended the government's efforts and called for vaccinations to be stepped up for industries in line with the National Covid-19 Recovery Plan.

       "Vaccination will be the way forward to save lives and livelihoods as we will have to live with this virus in our society," added Hah.